friends in the forest // mayne island weekend escape

Friends, forest, fabulousness. 

autumn adventures // stanley park

Autumn in Stanley Park.

I must admit, I am more than a little smitten with Autumn. She's rustic, cool, fragrant and symbolic of good things to come (gathering, feasting, giving!). Love it.

"I go see the birds, Mama."

away we go // joffre lakes

Hiking the Joffre Lakes trail, Pemberton, B.C.  

Our first snow of the season, it began to fall just one hour into our hike to Upper Joffre Lake on Saturday. Although overcast and cold, the experience was truly ethereal. Gracie kept a field journal for the trip ("feno journal") to make note of any animal sightings: one large eagle and several cheeky, food-stealing Whiskey Jacks. En route to the top we may have begun to teach her some Christmas carols... (because even though it's too early for snow, it's never too early for holiday songs!). 

Working up an appetite prior to our Thanksgiving Day feast! 

applebarn pumpkin farm

They're all sweet, won't you have a bite? 

Applebarn Pumpkin Farm.

//

This past weekend we spent a warm, sunny afternoon with Gracie and a friend picking apples and romping through the pumpkin patch. Fifty pounds of apples between us and two pumpkins later, we enjoyed a sweet snack of apple cider and perfectly roasted corn on the cob at the Country Store. I'm known for romanticizing rural life (I'm at least two thirds country mouse), but honestly, wouldn't it be gratifying to have a small farm?

The magic of autumn is now fully upon us. Apple picking was first on our fall bucket list - here are some additional ideas - I'd love to hear more if you have some:

• Visit the Westham Island Herb Farm Pumpkin Patch in Ladner
• Attend Pumpkin Patch Family Days at Southlands Heritage Farm
• Explore one of the Southern Gulf Islands in the off-season with my mom, perhaps Salt Spring
• Take some long exposure photos in Stanley Park or at Blackie Spit
• Enjoy the changing of the season by playing in the leaves with Gracie
• Try to catch the light on morning mist at Lynn Headwaters
• Eat and drink all things pumpkin!

Now, what to do with all of these apples?! Thus far I've made an apple-ginger milkshake, apple-butternut squash puree (with sage and nutmeg) and a crisp with flax meal and pepitas in the crust. Recipe suggestions welcome! 

Amazing!